Feedback on this “4k” dashcam footage - looks overprocessed, not natural

[taigi]

Hey everyone,

I’m attaching a short clip for feedback.
To my eyes it doesn’t look very natural - it’s overly sharp and kind of “processed.”
Or maybe it’s just me - after so long working with the DV standard.
The source is a modern, not so cheap car dashcam that someone used for non‑car footage.
The device claims it records in 4K'ish dimensions (UWQHD),
but I’ve seen devices that upscale lower resolution just after recording stops.

Question is, how should I fix it? Should I?

Thanks.

[johnmeyer]

Most dashcam, security, and trail cameras use sensors that are much lower resolution than what is claimed. To achieve their published specs, they simply up-res. The results of capturing in lower resolution and then up-resn'g are what you see when neophytes in this forum try to get details and sharpness that is missing in their lower resolution images. Sharpening is often part of this quest to produce details that are not there.

So, it is not surprising that your sample looks over-sharpened.

There are lots of comparison sites which uncover these issues, like this one:

The Truth About Dash Cams!

I've done a little work with security cameras (similar technology to dashcams), and if you want one that can actually read license plates (a requirement for both dashcams and security cameras), you have to spend at least $1,000. I have a dashcam, but it is $100 and when I've tested to see how many license plates I can read, my car has to be only a few car lengths away before I can resolve the letters and numbers.

AI software promises to be able to produce actual details where they did not exist. While I have learned to not underestimate what AI can do, so far I have not seen a convincing demo.

[taigi]

at least $1,000.

Recommended to check this video. https://youtu.be/uLjGazIxjEA The guy probably doesn’t know about AviSynth’s miracles and just went empirical with dashcams. That’s empirical, not commercial. The one obtained is among the best channel findings. Interesting channel after all.

[taigi]

when neophytes in this forum try to get details and sharpness that is missing in their lower resolution images

Yes, I still need to restore the footage. What should I do?

[Alwyn]

It is UWQHD ("4K" is the most abused and misused term on the planet).

Should I?

I don't think so. It looks fine to me.

[taigi]

It looks fine to me.

With respect, the material is looking a touch unnatural - rather as johnmeyer noted: "when neophytes... try to get details and sharpness that is missing".

[taigi]

It is UWQHD

Yes, that’s correct - it’s UWQHD, as noted in my initial message.

[pandy]

It is simply heavily denoised, some form of median denoiser probably - typical look for poor sensor in low light conditions - to reduce video bitrate source need to be denoised and this is effect.